LAST IN THE 17-MAN ORDER, Marquis Dendy ensured that he would stay there, opening up with a 26-8½ (8.14) that nobody else could match. Wearing his trademark bucket hat, along with a face mask from his Halloween drawer, the 30-year-old recaptured the national title he last won in ’15.
The Gator great didn’t improve during the course of the competition, but then he didn’t need to. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have worthy challengers.
In round 2, JuVaughn Harrison flew to a 26-6¼ (8.08) — windy on a generally calm day. In fact, the only two wind-aided marks of the day went to the LSU alum. Steffin McCarter, 5th at Worlds his last time down the Hayward Field runway, sat in 3rd after the first two rounds with his 26-1 (7.95).
In round 3, ’17 champion Jarrion Lawson hit 26-3½ (8.01) to move into 3rd. Meanwhile, Dendy struggled with his steps, going 25-8¼ (7.83) in 2 and 25-2¾ (7.69) in 3.
The order reset, McCarter produced a 26-5¾ (8.07) in the fourth stanza to pass Lawson, while Dendy regained his form with a 26-5 (8.05). In 5, Cordell Tinch, who had hurdled an eased-up 13.07 just prior to the start of the jumping, hit his best mark of the day, a 26-3 (8.00) which would give him 5th. Dendy closed the round at 26-7 (8.10).
In the final go-round McCarter could only span 25-8 (7.82) and would have to hope his earlier best would keep him on the podium. It didn’t. Jumping third-from-last, Lawson reached 26-8¼ (8.13) to scare Dendy and move into 2nd. Harrison reached 26-4¼ (8.03) as the penultimate jumper. Dendy, with the win in the bag, showed himself a worthy victor by closing with a 26-8¼ of his own.
“Really, to me it’s just kind of a formality, coming in here, making the team, having a chance at a medal,” said Dendy of his fifth World team berth. He admitted he took a “big risk” by having PRP shots in his Achilles and knee in the weeks leading up to the meet so that he would be ready for Budapest.
“I knew I was going to be rusty coming in,” he said, “but we got the job done, took care of business and won.”
MEN’S LONG JUMP RESULTS
(July 08)
(winds ranged from +2.2 to –1.7)
1. Marquis Dendy (Puma) 26-8½ (8.14)
(26-8½, 25-8¼, 25-2¾, 26-5, 26-7, 26-8¼) (8.14, 7.83, 7.69, 8.05, 8.10, 8.13);
2. Jarrion Lawson (unat) 26-8¼ (8.13)
(25-3½, f, 26-3½, 25-8¼, 26-4¼, 26-8¼) (7.71, f, 8.01, 7.83, 8.03, 8.13);
3. JuVaughn Harrison (Puma) 26-6¼w (8.08)
(25-6, 26-6¼w, 24-5½, 25-2½, 25-10, 26-4¼w) (7.77, 8.08w, 7.45, 7.68, 7.87, 8.03w);
4. Steffin McCarter (Nik) 26-5¾ (8.07)
(f, 26-1, 26-¼, 26-5¾, 25-7¼, 25-8) (f, 7.95, 7.93, 8.07, 7.80, 7.82);
5. Cordell Tinch (PittSt) 26-3 (8.00)
(25-9¼, 25-4, f, f, 26-3, p) (7.85, 7.72, f, f, 8.00, p);
6. Damarcus Simpson (unat) 25-11½ (7.91) (f, 25-½, 25-11½, f, f, f) (f, 7.63, 7.91, f, f, f);
7. Jermel Jones (Azusa) 25-10¼ (7.88) PR
(25-10¼, 25-8¼, 25-9½, f, 25-0, 24-10½) (7.88, 7.83, 7.86, f, 7.62, 7.58);
8. Will Williams (unat) 25-9½ (7.86)
(24-7, 25-9½, 25-7¼, 25-2¾, 25-2½, 25-9½) (7.49, 7.86, 7.80, 7.69, 7.68, 7.86);
9. Jeremiah Davis (FlSt) 25-8¼ (7.83); 10. Brandon Hicklin (LSU) 25-5¼ (7.75); 11. Malcolm Clemons (Fl) 25-4 (7.72); 12. Cameron Crump (MsSt) 25-3¼ (7.70); 13. Henry Kiner (PittSt) 24-3 (7.39); 14. Johnny Brackins (USC) 22-10¾ (6.98);… 3f—James Carter (Ia), Rayvon Grey (LSU);… nm—Kemonie Briggs (LeapS).
